​Orlando City B Falls To Louisville City FC 4-1 In First Road Game of the Season

Next game April 16 In Melbourne

Although Orlando City B kicked off its first away match with high momentum and focus, the young squad fell 4-1 to host Louisville City FC at Louisville Slugger Field on Saturday night. (OCB Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Although Orlando City B kicked off its first away match with high momentum and focus, the young squad fell 4-1 to host Louisville City FC at Louisville Slugger Field on Saturday night.

Anthony Pulis

“We obviously started well; we got a good goal early on. We’re disappointed, but there are positives to take [away],” said Head Coach Anthony Pulis.

“This happened early on [in the season], and I can say it’s a really good learning experience for some of our younger players to see the level that we have to get to.”

The Lions (0-2-1, 1 point) opened the match with an early goal, just five minutes in from Michael Cox – his first of the season. Zach Ellis-Hayden created the opportunity, using his speed down the right flank before finding Richie Laryea opened inside the penalty box.

With his back to the net, Laryea sent a cheeky pass into the middle for Cox who knocked it in to put the Lions up a goal.

Louisville (2-1-0, 6 points) responded in the 26th minute when Niall McCabe sent a low cross in from the left side, where Chandler Hoffman beat his defender to the near post and roofed the ball past City goalkeeper Mark Ridgers.

After playing to a 1-1 tie through the opening 45 minutes, the home team started the second half with fervor – going up 2-1 in the 47th minute on an Andrew Lubahn free kick. Louisville then doubled its lead in the 66th minute on a distance shot from Kadeem Dacres, firing from 25-yards out to catch Ridgers off his line, tucking the ball under the crossbar.

With Orlando pressing for a late rally, the home team capped off the scoring in second half added time on a give-and-go that sprung Ilija Ilic free inside the penalty box for the 4-1 final.

The contest featured the meeting of three former Orlando City USL players – Orlando City B Head Coach Anthony Pulis, Assistant Coach Rob Valentino and Louisville City FC’s Head Coach James O’Connor. Louisville City’s midfielder Aodhan Quinn also featured for the Lions during its previous years in the USL.